S & why they are going North (II)
Christ Our Lord’, he says. “This is because in Islam we believe in Jesus Christ. Islam respects every religion, whether it is Judaism or Christianity. Even in a war situation Muslims are enjoined not to destroy places of worship, be it a synagogue, a church or shrine where pagans worship.”
He is very tolerant and this quality strengthens his convictions as a Muslim. If I become so strict, I may end up being accused of trying to Islamise them. So, I am very careful.”
He comments on the civil war and its link to contemporary events in Igbo land. “This war was started and headed by two Christian warlords, Gowon and Ojukwu, on account of Hausa phobia and Islamophobia in Igbo land. How it came about, I do not know. The civil war started by two Christian warlords has been turned into an Igbo Christian/Hausa Muslim war. This is wrong. 90 per cent of the infantry that fought the war were from the Middle Belt, a predominantly Christian area. This is Hausa phobia taken too far.”
In Imo State, there are two other Igbo Muslim Kings, but he is the more visible one among them. Apart from being Vice President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, he is also Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers, Oguta, Imo State. He salutes the people over whom he rules. “I respect them for one thing. They don’t normally antagonise Muslims physically, except recently during the #EndSARS saga. There was an encouragement that people should attack Muslims.”
He returns to the theme of the civil war: “During the war, in some areas Igbo Muslims suffered, while in some areas they were protected. It all depends on environmental factors, and some cultural factors. For instance, during the war rent was collected for properties owned by Igbo in the North, and the properties were protected and monies given to the Igbo at the end of the war. However, the property of Igbo in Rivers State were labelled abandoned property.”